Three public hearings will be held this week on plans to establish passenger rail service between Chicago and Omaha, but you don't have to go the meetings in Chicago, Des Moines or Omaha to view the presentations and provide feedback.
The Iowa Department of Transportation has set up a project web site, chicagotoomaha.com, with the same public meeting information online, along with an online survey form for you to provide comments to planners on the regional rail service.
CLICK HERE to visit the Iowa DOT planning study web site, ChicagotoOmaha.com.
CLICK HERE to download the regional passenger rail presentation in PDF format.
CLICK HERE to download the regional passenger rail presentation in PowerPoint format.
CLICK HERE to download a survey form that can be filled out and mailed to the Iowa DOT.
"This online meeting is provided to give you a chance to learn more about the Chicago to Council Bluffs - Omaha Regional Passenger Rail System Study. It is also a chance for you to comment on the study's findings, associated impacts, and recommendations," the IDOT said in its news release on the online site. "The Iowa Department of Transportation is coordinating with the Federal Railroad Administration and the Illinois Department of Transportation on this study. The study's goal is to see if, how, and where passenger rail service could be established between Chicago, Council Bluffs and Omaha."
Passenger rail between Chicago and Moline, IL is expected to be operating in 2014, and transportation planners have begun looking at extending service across Iowa to link Chicago and Omaha/Council Bluffs.
